Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.
Daniel, I would like to thank you before we do anything else for agreeing to do this interview - I know you're busy getting ready for BEA. When did you write your first book?
My first book, The Ancillary’s Mark was written when I was nineteen years old. Funny enough, I started writing it when I was selling cars at a Nissan dealership. There was a ton of downtime, so when the older guys were staring out of the window or fooling around on the Internet, I tried my hand at something productive. I had no idea it would become a career.
Did you offer free copies of your novel to anyone who bought a new car?
I actually would have, but by the time it was published I had already moved on to bigger and better things. And by that I mean making minimum wage at Barnes and Noble. But I did get to hand-sell my book there, which was pretty cool.
What inspired you to write Masters of the Veil?
Harry Potter. Although when I set out to write MOTV I vowed to only use magic/creatures/theories/games of my own creation, it was J.K. Rowling’s novels that inspired me to try my hand at fantasy. She is my idol and my nemesis. (You hear that J.K.!!! Now you have to acknowledge my existence since we’re nemeses! Also, can we hang out sometime?)
How long did it take you to write Masters of the Veil?
From idea to final draft took about three years.
What do you think it is that sets Masters of the Veil apart from other fantasy novels?
Most fantasy novels that I’ve read have been centered around an outcast type who finds his/her place in a fantasy world. MOTV tells what happens when the opposite happens. Sam Lock is a high school football star who finds himself in a magical world and struggles there.
How much did your being a musician effect the way you told the story?
Hey, cool! You know that I’m a musician! It came through big time in Glissandro Thicket (my favorite character after Sam). He’s a mute sorcerer who has found a way to speak through music. I had a lot of fun meeting him, and he taught me some really important things.
Google knows everything – and I may be peeking in your windows. But to be serious, did you write any songs based on Glissandro and the book, or did you just play/listen to other music?
Uh…. Uh… the batman underoos I wear to bed are a joke. *Nervously tugs collar* Yeah, just a joke.